Tom Brady, one of the greatest football players of all time, departed the Patriots in 2020, and the team has not looked the same since. Even the legendary head coach Bill Belichick managed just a 29-38 record after the GOAT’s departure. So when Belichick left the franchise, it was widely expected that it would need a rebuild. The 2024 season under Jerod Mayo didn’t bolster the team’s case, as the Patriots finished 3-14. Now, with a brand-new head coach, Mike Vrabel, at the helm, the team needs a deep cleaning.
Last year, the New England Patriots were the worst in the majority of their departments. With a rookie quarterback leading the offense midway through the season, the offense was also going to be an issue. However, the bigger drop was on the defensive side of things. The team ranked 28th in sacks executed and was one of the worst at pressuring the QBs in the league. The O-line also had similar problems, as they were also the league’s worst, allowing 52 sacks on Drake Maye. Moreover, their pass blocking and win rate were just 50.9% last season. This opens up a scenario.
Mike Vrabel hasn’t signed any free agents on the offensive line, either. Considering they have the most cap money ($120 million), they could have signed Ronnie Stanley. Thus, in the absence of that, the head coach would surely look towards the NFL draft to reign in some solid players to bolster their edge and O-line rooms. The left tackle position especially needs immediate attention, as we saw no pass protection on Drake Maye’s blind side last year.
Adam Breneman, the former Penn State player and an analyst with CBS Sports, highlighted the concern and urged the Patriots to sign at least one of the two players he mentioned. “Think of the Patriots in Vrabel’s first draft. He’s got a hit on an offensive lineman, he’s got a hit on a front-seven talent, well, Campbell or Abdul Carter. Like, there are these players that you gotta find one of these guys that will re-establish that New England Patriots identity. I think we’ll see Vrabel take one of these guys, who will reset the tone for what the Patriots are.“
Abdul Carter, the former Penn State edge rusher standing at 6’3″ and 259 lbs, is one of the rarest commodities in the draft as far as edge rushers are concerned. The player had 12 sacks last season with 24 tackles, along with 71 QB hurries, and was a predator of QBs in every game he played. Then there is Will Campbell, who again plays a different position at left tackle and stands at 6’6″ and 319 lbs. The player played for LSU and allowed just two sacks in the 994 pass-blocking snaps he saw in his final two seasons. The 80.7 PFF run-blocking grade earned him a place in the First Team All-America, and he was also a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy.
Both players appear to be quite proficient in their respective roles. This becomes a threat for Carter, who could have commanded the Patriots’ interest solely and would have gone easily in their 4th pick. Even if the Patriots draft one of these players, it won’t result in a mutually beneficial outcome. But will they even go this route?
Mike Vrabel urged avoiding the past $4.2 million blunder
Well, the New England Patriots draft class in 2024 wasn’t too great, barring the signing of Drake Maye. The majority of the players drafted didn’t live up to the billing. Ja’Lymm Polk’s signing in the second round wasn’t too great, as the player has consistently shown issues with route running. Then there was Javon Baker in the 4th round, who struggled to make an impact in a receiver room that was already lacking depth. Then there was the signing of Joe Milton for $4.2 million.
Michael DeVito of the Musket Fire has termed the signing of Joe Milton a blunder on the part of the Patriots’ front office. “Drafting Milton in 2024’s sixth round was a decision made out of naivete and inexperience,” DeVito wrote. “The money spent on [Jacoby] Brissett made things even worse. Instead of investing those dollars in a left tackle or a capable wide receiver, they’d been used on a backup quarterback.”
The signing of Joe Milton from Tennessee hasn’t reaped any major immediate rewards for the team. The QB, while athletic, already had an ‘inconsistent’ tag on him at college. Now, for the franchise to draft him, it didn’t make quite sense. The quarterback failed to meet the high expectations set by Maye or Brissett. The QB, however, is now traded to the Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Nevertheless, the situation clearly indicates that both the team and Vrabel must make informed decisions before the draft this year.
The post Abdul Carter’s Patriots Dream Faces 319-LB Threat as Mike Vrabel Urged Not to Repeat $4.2M Mistake appeared first on EssentiallySports.